Outdoor stove with an adjustable fire pot



A. T. SMITH OUTDOOR STOVE WITH AN ADJUSTABLE FIRE POT Filed Dec. 6, 1944 Nov. 8 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet l 1S aminimum because the oscillating armature is momentarily stationary at the two ends of its travel and this absence of relative movement produces minimum brush drop and also at these positions there is maximum area of contact between the brush and the conducting commutator segments. Conversely, when the middle insulating segment of the oscillating commutator passes the brush the speed of the oscillating element will be a maximum, thus facilitating the current transfer between the segments 1 I and I2.

While there have been shown and described particular embodiments of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the invention and, therefore, it is aimed in the appended claim to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

In a vibratory converter, a switch having a stationary brush assembly and a vibratory commutator assembly, a base member, a pair of blade springs for supporting said commutator assembly for substantially pure translatory motion with a natural period of oscillation, said springs each having a first part attached to said base member and extending outwardly therefrom beyond said commutator assembly and a second part extending inwardly from said first part and attached to said commutator assembly, the relative resiliency and length of said parts being such that the vibratory motion is substantially pure iii) translation, said brush assembly being stationary and in continuous engagement with the commutator assembly through the full amplitude of said oscillation, means including both of said blade springs for making electrical connection to said commutator assembly, and means for driving the oscillating commutator assembly at its natural period of oscillation.

THOMAS T. SHORT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,305,013 Sandell May 27, 19.19 1,447,917 Wilson Mar. 6, 1923 1,650,799 Lee Nov. 29, 1927 1,745,878 Trumpler Feb. 4, 1930 1,798,922 Ytterberg Mar. 31, 1931 1,877,480 Osborne Sept. 13, 1932 1,954,689 Allen Apr. 10, 1934 1,961,058 Mace May 29, 1934 2,000,136 Huss May 7, 1935 2,120,985 Melhose June 21, 1938 2,178,151 Wagar Oct. 31, 1939 2,253,267 Dietrich Aug. 19, 1941 2,268,882 Lilja Jan. 6, 1942 2,284,891 Hartig June 2, 1942 2,368,193 Boynton Jan. 30, 1945 2,427,898 Burrows Sept. 23, 1947 2,447,230 Brown Aug. 17, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 s Q m w r w J N 0O 0 o o o w 1. w w m Q Q Q Q o M m/1d 4-7 Nov. 8, 1949 A. "r. SMITH OUTDOOR STOVE WITH AN ADJUSTABLE FIRE POT Filed Dec. 6, 1944 Nov. 8, 1949 A. T. SMITH 2,487,605

OUTDOOR STOVE WITH AN ADJUSTABLE FIRE POT Filed Dec. 6, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 WENTH. m

Patented Nov. 8, 1 949 UNITED STATES smear orrlcs OUTDOOR STOVE WITH AN ADJUSTABLE FIRE POT Alva T. Smith, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application December 6, 1944, Serial No. 566,839

2 Claims. (Cl. 12625) This invention relates to out-of-doors, portable cooking appliances andresides more specifically in an apparatus of this nature adapted for the burning of solid fuel upon a grate adjustable vertically within a relatively short and wide vertical fiue surrounded by an upwardlyopening trough for holding fluid, to Which heat is to be imparted. Above and extending across the flue a grill is provided upon which food may be placed and exposed directly to the fire for grilling.

. An object of this invention is to provide a portable outdoor stove incorporating as an integral part thereof the necessary utensils for the cooking of food.

Another object of this invention is to provide a readily-portable out-door stove adapted to burn solid fuel such as wood in such a manner as to render such fire stable and easily regulated.

Another object of this invention is to provide a stove of the type referred to wherein the solid fuel fire is so located as to transmit its heat conveniently either to a vessel within which food is being cooked, or to food exposed directly to said fire for grilling.

Another object of this invention is to provide in the preferred form thereof for an upwardlyfiaring fiue facilitating the regulation of the fire over a wide range and bringing about an entrainment of unheated air such as to render the stove comfortably and easily approached by an operator without undue exposure to the heat emitted therefrom.

The above and various other objects and advantages of this invention are explained in the description which follows, in which one form of the apparatus of this invention set forth by way of illustration and not of limitation is described in detail, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side-view in elevation and in section, showing one form of the apparatus of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. '3 is an end View in elevation and in section of the apparatus appearing in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail view in elevation and in section illustrating the cooking of food by transmitted heat;

Fig. 5 is a side view in section of parts only of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 arranged for use as a simple grill; and

Fig. 6 is a side view in elevation and in secill n e b tion showing the apparatus of this invention nested for compactness in transporting.

Referring now to the several views of the drawings, the apparatus of this invention is made up of a central, vertical, upwardly fiaring fiu l. The flue i is relatively short and wide, the V81; tical height being approximately the same as the diameter. The flue i is outwardly flanged at its lower edge and joined thru an interlocking head '2 with a surrounding wall 3 which forms an annular chamber surrounding the sides of the fine i. The fiue l and the external wall 3 thus form the main body of the apparatus of this invention and this main body is arranged to be supported by a tripod 4 having a circular rest formed of concentric wire members 5 and 6 in the upper end thereof upon which the base of the fiue l and the external wall 3 are carried.

If desired, the apparatus may be supported otherwise than by the tripod 4 by suspending the same from an overhead support by means of a pair of bales l and I secured to spaced brackets 8, 8 and 9, 9' on the exterior of the wall 3. When in use, the bales l and 1 are raised and inclined inwardly to meet at a point above the center of the flue l, where they may be engaged simultaneously at the point of suspension.

A fire pot is in the form of a perforated shallow cup serving as a grate is formed so as to fit loosely within the bottom of flue l and is supported upon a circular rim ll to which there is rigidly secured a handle (2. The rim H and handle i2 being rigidly related to one another and extending in directions at right angles to one another furnishes the necessary support for the pot It by engagement on one side with a notched fin l3 and by leaning on the opposite side against the upper rim of the fiue I as at point [4 indicated in Fig. 3. By grasping the handle I2 and tipping the same slightly inwardly, the rim can be disengaged from the fin l3, and thereupon the pot l0 may be lifted bodily to a higher notch on the fin It, or while held in such slightly tilted position may be lowered to a position completely below the fin it as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 3. This vertical adjustability of the fire pot serves to provide regulation of a fire present therein over a wide range. That is to say, when the pot it is in its extreme low position, the effective grate area thereof is increased by exposure of a greater number of perforations. At the same time, the chimney effect of the fiue l is enhanced by reason of the greater height thereof available. A very active fire may be maintained under such 3 conditions. in the extreme upper position of the pot It the effective grate area and the chimney effect of flue I are both reduced and a less active fire is maintained in this position.

If desired, the fire burning in the pot it can be additionally stimulated by lifting the pot I0 bodily from the flue I by means of the handle I2 and by vigorously swinging the pot to produce a fanning effect. In this way, the fire can be rapidly established or rapidly restored and then reinserted within the flue I.

The slight, upwardly-flaring configuration of flue I, combined with its relatively short vertical extent, results in a moderate draft being produced, which is desirable where a fuel such as wood is being consumed, inasmuch as a moderate draft is sufficient to produce a very active fire and it is desirable that the flame resulting therefrom be not drawn away too rapidly, since radiant heating of the walls of the flue with its characteristic high rate of heat transfer is desirably preserved. By reason of the flaring configuration of flue l, considerable entrainment of air occurs and this is drawn readily inwardly over the upper rim of flue I and may even descend slightly into the flue I before being entrained and carried upwardly with the main stream of gases emitted by the fire. This inward travel of entrained air makes it possible to approach the apparatus of this invention comfortably while it is in operation, since it counteracts the possibility of heated products of combustion being driven sideways against the hands of an operator who is manipulating the apparatus- Disposed in the upper end of the flue I and extending across the same is a grill I5 formed of a metal grating to which suspension hooks it are secured. One of the suspension hooks It is engaged by a handle I! so that the grill may be lifted to and from the flue I as need may occasion. The grill I 5 is provided with an inwardly extending notch I8 on one side thereof to permit the handle l2 to be manipulated to move the pot Hi without necessitating the removal of grill I5.

The upper rim of the surrounding wall 3 is preferably located substantially below the upper rim of flue I and a cover I9 formed to bridge the gap between the same is provided to enclose the annular cooking space surrounding the flue l. Cover I9 is herein shown in the form of a single annular piece which may be removed and replaced conveniently when the apparatus is supported upon the tripod 4. If it is desired, however, to support the apparatus by means of a bale 5', cover is is preferably made in one or more pieces to facilitate their removal and replacement without interference with the bale I.

The annular cooking space surrounding the flue I can be used for the preparation of liquid foods, soups, stews and the like and for the preparation of hot beverages, and it also may be employed for cooking of foods by simple immersion in boiling water. As an example of this, an ear of sweet corn is shown in Fig. 4 in position where the same may be cooked by immersion in boiling water. The apparatus of this invention is particularly adapted for convenient cooking of this article of food since the husks 2i] of the car 25 may be simply folded back without their removal and may extend upwardly out of the cooking space as shown, to provide a convenient handle by which the ear 2I may be inserted in and removed from the cooking space, and furthermore grasped by the consumer without requiring any serving dishes and the like. The extension of the 4 fine I above the upper rim of the surrounding wall 3 further serves to prevent the husks 26 from becoming ignited by the fire by preventing the same from leaning inwardly, and this, in conunction with the inward flow of entrained air, insures that the husks 20 will remain unimpaired.

The upwardly-flaring configuration of the flue I results in an inclination of the wall of the cooking space thru which heat is being imparted thereto. This inclination of the wall results in a more vigorous convection adjacent to said wall, thus enhancing the rate at which heat is absorbed. Furthermore, because of the inclination of said wall thru which heat is being transmitted, the same will remain free from a coating of sediment and the like when cooking foods such as soups which may contain sediment which otherwise would cake upon and become burned on the heating surface. To permit easy withdrawal of fluid from the cooking space, a swing pipe 22 is secured to and enters thru the outer wall 3. Swing pipe 22 thus may be lowered to withdraw fluid at any time, or it may be placed in any position desired for the purpose of maintaining any desired level of the liquid. For example, if a large number of cars of corn are to be cooked at one time, it is inconvenient to measure the quantity of water required, and if an excess thereof be contained as additional ears are inserted, such excess will flow away thru the swing pipe 22. To avoid the flowing of liquid by capillarity into the fire pot It where it would extinguish the fire in case any such liquid should be spilled over the rim of the outer wall 3, the bead 2 is formed with vertical surfaces so that the same will act as a drip rim and thus break up any capillar-creeping tendency so that liquid will drip freely to the ground without interference with the fire con tained in the pot ID.

If desired, the fire pot II] can be completely removed from the flue I and a fire such as a charcoal fire may be formed and maintained therein, and while so doing the pot l0 may be supported upon the tripod 4, as illustrated in Fig. 5. Grill I5 may then be placed thereon so that a grilling action may be performed entirely separate from the cooking space formed by the flue i and the outerwall 3. This is an added convenience under some circumstances where it is desired to avoid overcooking of fluid foods while continuing the cooking of foods to be grilled.

By reason of the spaced attachment of the bales l, I, a rigid relationship between the point where the bales are brought together to form the point of suspension and the apparatus as a whole is established. This is important since the dislocation of fluid in the trough-like receptacle takes place very readily and a single pivoted bale cannot control such displacement to prevent upset.

The entire apparatus may be conveniently rearranged to occupy a relatively small space, as

illustrated in Fig. 6 wherein the cover I9 in inverted position receives themain body of the apparatus while the le s of the tripod 4 are received within the cooking space formed between the flue I and the outer wall 3. At the same time, the fire pot ii) is lifted entirely within the flue I. to facilitate mechandising or may be thus nested and carried in a small carton when it is desired to transport the apparatus from place to place.

While in nested form as illustrated in Fig. 6, the apparatus may furthermore be used as a The apparatus may be thus packaged convenient refrigerating container by placing foods to be refrigerated within the flue l and by packing the cooking space between the flue l and the outer wall 3 with ice or other refrigerant. This can be accomplished even tho the tripod 4 occupies the position shown in Fig. 6, since the projection of the legs of the tripod into the refrigerant impairs the efficiency thereof but little. It is contemplated of c0urse, when the apparatus is so used, that it be housed within a suitable container such as a cardboard carton which will delay the rapid dissipation of the refrigerant.

I claim:

1. In a stove for burning solid fuel the combination comprising a short relatively wide vertical upwardly flaring open ended round flue having a transverse extent approximating its vertical extent, a round perforated sheet metal fire pot conforming to the cross section of said flue and movable vertically therein, an upwardly extending handle for lifting and tilting said fire pot and for moving the same from one adjusted position to another in said flue, and a series of vertically disposed notches secured within said flue on one side thereof cleared by said pot upon tilting of said handle and pot and adapted to support said handle and pot when in non-tilted position.

2. In a stove for burning solid fuel the combination comprising a short relatively wide vertical upwardly flaring open ended round flue having a transverse extent approximating its vertical extent, a round perforated sheet metal fire pot conforming to the cross section of said flue and movable vertically therein, an upwardly extending handle for lifiting and tilting said fire pot and for moving the same from one adjusted position to another in said flue and for lifting said fire pot bodily from said flue so that it may be swung to fan and activate a fire contained therein, and a series of vertically disposed notches secured within said flue on one side thereof cleared by said pot upon tilting of said handle and pot and adapted to support said handle and pot when in non-tilted position.

ALVA T. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

